Ford Street (77^th Street) serves as the main access road between Park City and Valley Center as well as a main artery for I-35 for Valley Center residents. This road is utilized by dozens of companies, thousands of employees, and residents as a commuter route for school, a truck delivery route, and serves the 81 Speedway, Hartman Arena, and the Kansas Coliseum. The project encompassed the improvement of an offset intersection, provided more access for businesses, and implemented intersection control methods at a dangerous intersection between the two cities.

In 2021, PEC, as City Engineers for Valley Center, Kansas, designed the intersection improvements, and Dondlinger Construction was selected through a competitive bid. A unique elliptical design was required due to existing utilities that were unable to be relocated, limited right-of-way acquisition, an existing stream crossing directly to the west of the intersection, and an existing detention pond on the northeast corner. Due to the creek crossing on the west side of the intersection and an RCB structure that was required on the east side of the intersection, a unique grading design was required to hold hydraulic over-topping elevations to the west and grade to match an existing shallow ditch to the east. In addition, design services, utility coordination, and construction efforts were completed on a compressed schedule to ensure the intersection would be operational in time for delivery truck peak use during the end-of-year holiday seasons.

This was a joint project partnering the cities of Park City and Valley Center, Kansas, as well as Sedgwick County. Their collaboration made an overwhelming impact on community growth, the safety of transportation, and the promotion of economic development for both cities and the entire northeast Sedgwick County region. Safety was top-of-mind throughout the project. Thus, incorporating a roundabout model boasting a potential 50-90% reduction in collisions was a priority. This improvement also played an instrumental part in a multinational technology and e-commerce company’s decision to build a one-million-square-foot facility close by and bring more than 500 new jobs to the community.

SERVICES
Materials Testing
Owner Representation
Site Civil
Survey
Transportation

COMPLETION DATE
2021